Method for photographing lustrous objects, method for photographing spectacle frames, and method for creating electronic spectacle frame catalogue

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for photographing lustrous objects, including even spectacle frames with highly reflective surfaces such as metal frames, that enables the objects to be photographed more naturally and aesthetically without any reflection on the surface of the camera or lens. The present invention also provides a method for photographing spectacle frames and a method for creating an electronic spectacle frame catalogue using this method. The method is one in which the camera  2  photographs the lustrous object  1.  Optical shield members  3, 4,  and  5  are placed between the camera body  21  and the lens  22  of the camera  2,  and the lustrous object  1  so that a reflection of said camera  2  is not be formed on the photographed image of the lustrous object. In addition, an opening  41,  having a size and shape suitable for photographing an image of the lustrous object  1,  is provided in the shield member  4  of the lens  22.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for photographinglustrous objects such as metal spectacle frames, for example, and to amethod for photographing spectacle frames.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] When creating catalogues or pamphlets for spectacle frames, orwhen simulating the wearing of spectacle frames, images of the spectacleframes must be photographed. For example, in the spectacle frame try-onsimulation device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-80222 or in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-76581, animage of an spectacle frame is photographed with a video camera andsimulation occurs by synthesizing this image with an image of a personthat has been photographed separately. Furthermore, Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 63-172220 describes a method wherein the R, G,and B values of each dot in a static image of an spectacle frame loadedonto a computer by a video camera are scanned and the spectacle framedata and background data are separated. Here, the method forphotographing the spectacle frame using a video camera involvespositioning the spectacle frames in a dark box and photographing themthere under indirect light.

[0003] However, it is still difficult to obtain a good image even whenan spectacle frame is placed in a dark box and photographed underindirect light. In particular, when there is much surface lustre on thespectacle frame, such as with a metal frame, the camera or backgroundmages are reflected on the surface of the spectacle frame and thenatural hues cannot be photographed. While the reflection on images offrames that are photographed as digital images can be revised and colorsadjusted, this type of revision or color adjustment makes the image lookflat and as if it has been painted, quite different to the real image.

[0004] The present invention was made against the above background andaims to provide a method for photographing lustrous objects, thatenables the photographing of more natural and aesthetic images withoutreflection of the camera or lens on the surface of the object, moreparticularly, even on spectacle frames with highly reflective surfaces,such as metal frames. The present invention also aims to provide anspectacle frame photographing method and a method for creatingelectronic catalogues of spectacle frames using this method.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The first means of solving the above issues is a method forphotographing lustrous objects with a camera. So that a reflected imageof the above camera is not formed in the image of the lustrous objectbeing photographed, an optical shield member is placed between saidcamera body and camera lens thereof, and the above lustrous object. Inaddition, an opening, having a size and shape suitable for photographingan image of the above lustrous object, is provided in the above lensshield member.

[0006] Use of the first means enables less reflection of the camera bodyand lens on the lustrous object through the provision of a shieldmember, which includes an opening, between the lustrous object and thelens, and thus enables more natural and fresher photography. Anymaterial can be used for the shield member as long as it reduces thereflection of the camera and lens on the lustrous object, the shieldneed not be an optical shield member. Instead, a transmissible materialthat disperses light may be used.

[0007] The second means is the lustrous object photographing method ofthe first means wherein the above opening is of the minimum size andshape required to enable an image of the above lustrous object to bephotographed.

[0008] Use of the second means enables reflection of the lens on thelustrous object to be minimized. Here, it is preferable that the shapeof the opening be set so that the a of the opening is the minimumrequired for the shape of the object to be photographed.

[0009] The third means is the method for photographing lustrous objectsof either the first or second means wherein the above shield member hasa white surface.

[0010] Use of the third means enables favourable reduction of thereflection of the camera body and its lens on the lustrous object. Whitepaper with little gloss is an example of a material with a whitesurface.

[0011] The fourth means is a method for photographing spectacle frames,wherein the method for photographing lustrous objects of any of thefirst through third means is used to photograph an image of thespectacle frames. Spectacle frames are used as the above lustrousobject.

[0012] Use of the fourth means enables a reduction in the reflection ofthe camera body or its lens on the object, even when the spectacleframes are lustrous, thus enabling more natural and fresher photography.

[0013] The fifth means is the method for photographing spectacle framesof the fourth means, wherein the light of the flash is irradiated to thespectacle frames via a transmissible, light dispersing member whenphotography takes place.

[0014] The sixth means is the method for photographing spectacle framesof the fourth means, wherein the spectacle frames are photographed withsaid camera from a photography opening in a lighting box that has anindirect illumination function and into which the spectacle frames areplaced.

[0015] The seventh means is the spectacle frame photographing method ofthe sixth means wherein the spectacle frames are covered by atransmissible, light dispersing material in which an opening forphotography by the camera is made.

[0016] The eighth means is the method for photographing spectacle framesof the sixth means, wherein the camera used is a digital camera.

[0017] Use of a digital camera in photography enables digitalinformation about spectacle frame images to be obtained, thus makingsubsequent editing and handling much simpler.

[0018] The ninth means is an electronic spectacle frame cataloguecreation method used when creating electronic catalogues of spectacleframes in which information relating to spectacle frames, including alltypes of spectacle frame image information, is electronically recordedand wherein digital image information is used as the spectacle frameimage information by digitizing images photographed using the method forphotographing spectacle frames of any of the fourth through eighthmeans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section that provides an overview of theconfiguration of the device for implementing the method forphotographing spectacle frames used in the embodiments of the presentinvention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the top of a lighting box;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a cut-away view through part of the shield membermounted on the digital camera:

[0022]FIG. 4 is a plan drawing of the shield member in FIGS. 1 and 2:

[0023]FIG. 5 shows a container 6 made from the transmissible, lightdispersing material and that accommodates the object 1;

[0024]FIG. 6 shows an image of an spectacle frame obtained When a metalspectacle frame is photographed using the methods of the embodiments(photographed by irradiating light from a strobe flash using the shieldmember of FIG. 2);

[0025]FIG. 7 shows an image of an spectacle frame obtained whenphotographed without using the shield member of FIG. 2 (photographed byirradiating the light from a strobe flash);

[0026]FIG. 8 shows the image of an spectacle frame obtained whenphotographed without using the shield member of FIG. 2 and withoutirradiating the light from a strobe flash;

[0027]FIG. 9 shows the procedure for creating an electronic spectacleframe catalogue;

[0028]FIG. 10 gives an overview of the spectacles try-on simulationmethod;

[0029]FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of the lighting box usedfor photography;

[0030]FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-section showing the interiorof the lighting box used for photography;

[0031]FIG. 13 shows the arrangement of lighting lamps within thephotographic lighting box; and

[0032]FIG. 14 shows the arrangement of lighting lamps within thephotographic lighting box.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0033] (Embodiment 1)

[0034] Hereinbelow, the method for photographing spectacle frames usedin the embodiments of the present invention will be explained using thediagrams for reference. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section showing anoverview of the configuration of the device for implementing the methodfor photographing spectacle frames in a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the top of a lighting box,FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view through part of the shield membermounted onto the digital camera, and FIG. 4 is a front view of theshield member.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, this method is a method for photographing anobject 1 using a digital camera 2. The object 1 is a highly lustrousmetal spectacle frame. In this example, the object 1 is set in alighting box 100. The digital camera 2 has a lens of a diameter that isrelatively large compared to that of an ordinary single-lens reflexcamera. The lens part 22 at the front of the camera body 21 of thisdigital camera 2 is fitted with a first shield member 3, shaped like asheath, and a second shield member 4 shaped like a cap.

[0036] The lighting box 100 is provided with an object placement table102 situated in the middle of the main case 101. An opening forphotography 103 is formed to enable the object 1. which is placed onthis object placement table 1, to be photographed from the outside.

[0037] Also, forward side lamps L1 and L2, upper central lamps L3 andL4, upper rear side lamps L5 and L6, and lower central lamps L7, L8, L9,and so forth, are provided around the above object placement table 102.A controller, which is not shown, is used to change the direction of thelight, the amount of light, and other lighting conditions as desired.

[0038] Transmissible, light dispersing material 104, 105, 106, and 107,made from a light transmissible, milky white acrylic board, is placedbetween each of the lamps and the object placement table 102. Thisenables the object 1 that is placed on the object placement table 102 tobe indirectly lit by these lamps. The transmissible, light dispersingmaterial 104, which is placed underneath the object placement table 102,is curved so that it rises towards the rear. This provides a backgroundto the object 1.

[0039] The first shield member 3 is used to cover the optical linkbetween the camera body 21 and the object 1 so that the camera body 21does not enter the visual field of the object. This embodiment of thepresent invention uses a substantially square board of a size that meansthat the camera body 21 does not enter the visual field of the object 1.Also, the second shield member 4 covers the optical link between theobject 1 and the lens 22 of the digital camera 2. This means that thereis no reflection of the camera body 21 or lens of the lens member 22 onthe photographed image of the lustrous object .

[0040] The second shield member 4 is shaped like a cap and fits onto thelens part 22. At the tip of this second shield member 4 is a rectangularopening 41. This opening 41 is used to photograph an image of the object1 and is of the minimum size required to enable photographing of theimage of the object 1. The opening is rectangular because the object inthis embodiment of the present invention is an spectacle frame. When theobject 1 is another shape, the size of the opening is formed so that itis the minimum necessary for the shape of that object.

[0041] The size and shape of the opening 41 is the minimum size andshape needed to ensure that the image of the object 1 being shown on thedigital camera 2 is not lost while it is actually being observed. Thisis because the smaller this opening, the less the reflection. The firstand second shield members 3 and 4 can be any white material with anon-glossy surface, for example, white paper.

[0042] When the object 1 is photographed by the digital camera 2, theobject 1 must sometimes be irradiated by the light of a strobe flash 23.In these instances, a third shield member 5 is placed between the strobe23 and the object 1. This third shield member 5 is a transmissible,light dispersing material such as white diffusion paper. This materialprevents any reflection of the diffusion paper itself or of the lensopening and prevents unnatural images caused by unevenness in the lightof the flash, thus enabling fresher looking images without reflections.

[0043] Furthermore, to obtain more natural and fresher images ofobjects, it is preferable that the object 1 (above spectacle frame) isagain covered by a transmissible, light dispersing material. Forexample, the container 6 shown in FIG. 5 is made of transmissible, lightdispersing material such as milky white acrylic board and broadenstoward the bottom. An opening for photography 61 is provided in thecontainer. The object 1 is photographed after being placed in thiscontainer which in turn is placed on the object placement table 102.

[0044] Various aspects are photographed as required so that variousimages of an spectacle frame, such as enlarged images of each part, planview images, side view images, and perspective view images, can beobtained. Each time a photograph is taken, each lamp in the lighting boxis adjusted and the size and shape of the opening 41 in the secondshield member is adjusted so that a quality image without reflectionsand so forth can be obtained.

[0045]FIG. 6 shows the image of an spectacle frame obtained when a metalspectacle frame was photographed using the method in this embodiment(using second shield member and photographed using the light from astrobe flash), FIG. 7 shows the image of an spectacle frame obtainedwhen photographed without using the second shield member (photographedusing the light from a strobe flash), and FIG. 8 shows the image of anspectacle frame obtained when neither the second shield member nor thelight from the strobe flash were used.

[0046] A black shadow can be seen near the bridge of the frames in theimages of the spectacle frames shown in both FIGS. 7 and 8. However,this is not seen in FIG. 6. Also, when the images in FIGS. 7 and 8, inboth of which the black shadow appears, are compared, the site of theblack shadow in the image shown in FIG. 7 is clearly smaller than thatin FIG. 5.

[0047] The image shown in FIG. 6 was taken using the second shieldmember and the flash, the image shown in FIG. 7 was taken without thesecond shield member but with the strobe flash, and the image in FIG. 8was taken using neither the second shield member nor the flash.

[0048] These results show that the above black shadow was a reflectionof the lens of the digital camera 2 in the object 1 (spectacle frames).It is clear that use of the second shield member and the light from theflash enabled this reflection to be almost completely eliminated. It canalso be seen that use of the flash also substantially reduced thereflection.

[0049] Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the image of the spectacle frame 1photographed with the digital camera 2 is loaded onto a personalcomputer 200, edited with other required information, and used to makean electronic catalogue of spectacle frames, Here, required informationmay include for example, the type of spectacle frame, Its name or modelnumber, the brand of the spectacle frames, the company that manufacturesthem, the designer's name, the price, and any specified options. Optionsmay include for example, spring hinges, ultra-flexible frames, asunglass function, metal hypoallergenic frames, jewelled frames(jewellery), and gold frames.

[0050] In editing, the above personal computer 200 is used to link thisrequired information, as written or audio information, to the imageinformation for each spectacle frame. In other words, the imageinformation, written information, and audio information is edited as amultimedia catalogue. For example, if a model number is specified, alist of image information for spectacle frames with that model number isshown. A specific image can then be selected from that list for displayor printing out. Also, it, for example, the spectacle frame type andbrand are specified, a matching list will be displayed. A specific imageof specific spectacle frames selected from that list can then beselected for display or printing out. In addition, other informationabout the selected spectacle frame, for example its price and its listof options, can be displayed or output as written or audio data.

[0051] The thus edited electronic catalogue is stored in a storagedevice in the personal computer 200. The catalogue can be sent online toanother computer or recorded onto a storage medium such as a CD-ROM 300to provide a multimedia catalogue for use in the implementation of anspectacles try-on simulation.

[0052]FIG. 10 is a block diagram that overviews the spectacles try-onsimulation method. This spectacles try-on simulation method creates theclient portrait data 1, frame data 2, and lens data 3, respectively, andthen, using an image synthesis method, creates an image 4 of the clientwearing the frames fitted with the lens, based on this data, thussimulating the wearing of the spectacles.

[0053] This spectacles try-on simulation method enables a client'sportrait to be photographed by a digital camera and converted intodigital image information, and then to undergo the required facialsurface processing and scale adjustment so that this image can besynthesized with the frame image. Based on previously input lens data,information such as the lens type, lens design method, processingspecifications, and color is specified and lenses that suit the clientare selected. Then, based on the frame data supplied from the multimediacatalogue 5, frames are selected by specifying the frame type, basiclens shape, price, brand, and functions. The thus selected lenses andframe are synthesized with the above portrait to simulate the wearing ofthe spectacles.

[0054] Using the above spectacles try-on simulation method, a client isable to quickly confirm how they appear wearing various spectacles thatthey have been able to freely select on the display screen, thusenabling them to obtain that are better suited to them. In addition, theimage of the spectacle frame used in image synthesis looks extremelynatural and maintains the actual feel of the spectacles, thus enabling amuch better simulation.

[0055] In Embodiment 1 described above, the first shield member issheath-like and the second shield member is cap-like. However, these arenot the only shapes that can be used for shields. They may be of anyshape that prevents the reflection of the camera body and lens on theobject. It is also preferable to change the size and shape of theopening in the second shield member to suit the object. When the shapeof the object is constant, the scope of the view can be selected bychanging the distance to the lens, without changing the size and shapeof the opening. Furthermore, the camera or other diaphragm function canbe adapted to enable the size and shape of the opening to be changedfreely.

[0056] Also, it is preferable to adjust the position of the objectrather than the position of the camera. The object placement table 102for holding or for placement of the frame inside the box shouldpreferably be of a structure that allows adjustment of its position inall three directions and adjustment of angles. This allows the objectplacement table 102 to be adjusted to suit differently shaped and sizedframes and different directions of photography.

[0057] Furthermore, it is preferable to use strobe photography, in whichthe third shield member is used, when photographing frames that areeasily affected by reflections, where even the reflection of the lensopening must be considered.

[0058] (Embodiment 2)

[0059]FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams for explaining the photographiclighting box in the method for photographing spectacle frames in asecond embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an externalperspective view of a photographic lighting box and FIG. 12 is anenlarged partial cross-section of the interior configuration of thephotographic lighting box. FIGS. 13 and 14 show the arrangement oflighting lamps within the photographic lighting box.

[0060] The photographic lighting box 200 in these figures incorporatesvarious devices in a white plastic main case 201. At approximately thecentre of the panel on the front of this main case 201 is an opening forphotography 201 a. Below this opening for photography 201 a is a camerastand 201 b. A digital camera 221 is placed on this camera stand 201 band this camera 221 is used for the photography. On the rear panel 201 cis a door that can be open and shut and that can be used to place theobject, that is the spectacle frame 1, inside and outside the lightingbox.

[0061] The type of camera 221 used is a digital camera with an extremelysmall lens diameter (of approximately 1 cm

). An example of this type of digital camera is the “FinePix 4700z” ofthe Fuji Photo Film Company Limited (maximum 4.32 million pixels).

[0062] The front panel also contains a main switch 211, a mode switchingpanel 212, and a light adjustment panel 213. The main switch 211 turnsthe main power to the photographic lighting box 200 on or off. The modeswitching panel 212 has a front photographic mode button 212 a, a sidephotographic mode button 212 b, a close-up photographic mode button 212c, and a change mode settings and manual adjustment mode button 212 d.These buttons are used as switches to set values according to thephotographic mode, automatically adjusting the position and angle of thedummy head, which is described later, and adjusting the light from thelamps. Settings can be changed by pressing the change mode settings andmanual adjustment mode button 212 d a number of times. Its initialstatus is a mode photography status. When the button is pressed oncemore, the status changes to one in which the mode settings can bechanged. Accordingly, when any mode button is pressed in this status,the manual adjustments described below are made. Those values are set asthe values for that mode when the mode button is pressed again. When thesettings for one mode have been made, the button is pressed again tochange other values in a similar way. When the button is pressed twiceafter all values have been set, the status returns to the initialstatus, that is the mode photography status.

[0063] Also, the light adjustment panel 213 has a main lamp switch 213 aand nine light adjustment knobs 213 b that independently adjust thelight for the nine separate lamps. These act as switches for adjustingthe strength of light from the lamps, for setting the strength of thelight in each photographic mode, and for adjusting the strength of thelight from lamps when manually adjusting each lamp under conditionsother than mode photography.

[0064] Furthermore, the side panel has a vertical adjustment knob 214 a,a horizontal angle adjustment knob 214 b, a forwards and backwards angleadjustment knob 214 c, and a forward and backwards position adjustmentknob 214 d. These are used as operation knobs for manual adjustment ofthe set position of the dummmy head 203 described below. As discussedabove, when the change mode settings and manual adjustment mode button212 d is pressed and these knobs operated, the position and anglesettings for the dummy head 203, which are automatically set for eachphotographic mode, can be changed or the position for a particularphotographic session determined.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 12, inside the main case 201 for thephotographic lighting box 200, there are lighting means L1 through L9comprising high color rendered fluorescent light tubes, a lightdispersion case 202 comprising transmissible, light dispersing materialfor dispersing the direct light from these lighting means, a dummy head203 placed inside the light dispersion case 202, and a positionadjustment mechanism 204 that changes the vertical position and slope ofthe dummy head 203. Of the lighting means L1 through L9, the forwardlighting means L1 and L2 in particular have light source functions forthe strobe photography of Embodiment 1 and functions for enablingquality photography of the fronts of frames. Furthermore, although notspecifically shown in the figures, among the components contained in themain case 201 is a circuit device required to enable light adjustment ofthe lighting means, a circuit device required to drive the positionadjustment mechanism, and an electronic circuit device that is connectedto the switches and to these circuit devices and that is required forthe information processing device that controls these in accordance withthe prescribed program.

[0066] The light dispersion case 202 comprising the transmissible, lightdispersing material, is shaped so that it surrounds the dummy head 203and comprises an upper member 202 a and a lower member 202 b. The uppermember 202 a is removably attached to the lower member 202 b. There isan opening for photography 202 c on the front side face of the uppermember. When the dummy head 203 or the spectacle frame being worn by thedummy head 203 Is replaced, the upper member 202 a is removed from thelower member 202 b. This light dispersion case 202 is supported insidethe main case 201 by suitable braces.

[0067] The dummy head 203 is a model of a person's head and is formedfrom white non-glossy alabaster. Photography is done with the object,that is the spectacle frame 1, mounted on this dummy head 203. Thisenables photography from a number of directions to be done by changingthe position and angle of the dummy head 203 and leaving the spectacleframe 1 itself fixed to the dummy head 203.

[0068] The dummy head 203 is removably attached to the head mountingshaft 204 a on the position adjustment mechanism 204. This head mountingshaft 204 a is fixed onto a motor-driven, freely running, rotationdevice 204 b. This freely running rotation device 204 b is mounted sothat it moves freely on an arc shaped rail 204 c. This arc shaped rail204 c is fixed onto a rotating stage 204 e by mounting member 204 d.Thus, the forwards and backwards rotation angle of the dummy head 203can be adjusted by driving the rotation device 204 b. The rotationdevice 204 b can also be driven manually by a manual drive lever 204 e.Attached at the tip of this manual lever 204 e is the above forwards andbackwards angle adjustment knob 214 d. Operation of this knob allowsmanual adjustments to be made.

[0069] Around the periphery of the rotating stage 204 e are gear cogsthat mesh into a worm shaft 204 g. Accordingly, the rotating stage 204 fis rotated by rotating this worm shaft 204 g. This worm shaft 204 g iscoupled to a motor-driven gearbox not shown in the diagrams. It cantherefore be motor driven or manually driven using the above horizontalangle adjustment knob 214 b that is coupled to this motor-drivengearbox.

[0070] The rotating stage 204 e is mounted so that it rotates freely ona vertically mobile shaft 204 h. This vertically mobile shaft 204 h hasa rack mechanism 204 i. The cogs on this rack mechanism mesh into apinion shaft 204 j. The vertically mobile shaft 204 h is mounted so thatit moves freely up and down a guide shaft 204 k. Accordingly, thevertically mobile shaft 204 h can be moved up or down by rotating thispinion shaft 204 j. This then allows the vertical position of the dummyhead 203 to be adjusted. This pinion shaft 204 j is also coupled to amotor-driven gearbox not shown in the diagrams and can be either motordriven, or manually driven using the above vertical adjustment knob 214b that is coupled to this motor-driven gearbox.

[0071] The above guide shaft 204 k is fixed onto a block that can bemoved backwards and forwards 204 m. This block that can be movedbackwards and forwards 204 n is mounted so that it can move freely on aguide block 204 n. The block that can be moved backwards and forwards204 m can be moved backwards and forwards by rotating a drive shaft 204p. This enables the position of the dummy head 203 to be adjustedforwards or backwards. This drive shaft 204 p is also coupled to amotor-driven gear box not shown in the diagrams and can be either motordriven, or manually driven using the above forward and backward movementadjustment knob 214 c that is coupled to this motor-driven gear box.

[0072] When photographing spectacle frames using the above photographiclighting box 200, an spectacle frame 1 is placed on the dummy head 203and photographed by the digital camera 221. Here, when the front-onphotographic mode button 212 a is pressed, the dummy head 203automatically faces the front and all the lighting means areautomatically set to the optimum lighting strengths for front-onphotography. Accordingly, the photographer can shoot the optimum frontview merely by pressing the shutter on the digital camera. Next, whenthe side photographic mode button 212 b is pressed, the dummy head 203automatically rotates to the right by 90 degrees and the lighting meansare set to the optimum status for side-on photography. Similarly, whenthe close-up photographic mode button 212 c is pressed, the dummy head203 still faces the side so that the endpiece can be photographed andmoves forward to a position in front of the lens of the digital camera221 so that a close-up photograph of the characteristics of the bow partof the frame ant can be taken.

[0073] Embodiment 2 enables extremely speedy photography and allows aphotographer who is not skilled in photography to take excellentpictures. In Embodiment 2, the first and second shield members ofEmbodiment 1 are used in conjunction with the functions of thephotographic lighting box itself.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0074] As described above, the present invention allows images oflustrous objects to be photographed so that the camera is not reflectedin the image. To do this, an optical shield member is placed between thecamera body and camera lens thereof, and the spectacle frame. Inaddition, an opening, having a size and shape suitable for photographingthe image of the lustrous object, is provided in the above lens shieldmember. More particularly, this enables the provision of a method forphotographing lustrous objects, that enables even spectacle frames withhighly reflective surfaces, such as metal frames, to be photographedmore naturally and aesthetically without reflection of the camera orlens on the surface of the object, and also the provision of a methodfor photographing spectacle frames and an electronic spectacle framecatalogue creation method using this method.

1. A method for photographing lustrous objects with a camera, wherein anoptical shield member is placed between said camera body and camera lensthereof, and said lustrous object so that a reflected image of the abovecamera is not formed in the image of the lustrous object beingphotographed. and wherein an opening, having a sire and shape suitablefor photographing an image of said lustrous object, is provided in saidlens shield member.
 2. The method for photographing lustrous objectsaccording to claim 1, wherein said opening is of a shape and minimumsize suitable for photographing an image of said lustrous object.
 3. Themethod for photographing lustrous objects according to claim 1 and claim2, where in the surface of said shield member is white.
 4. A method forphotographing spectacle frames, wherein the method for photographinglustrous objects described in any of claims 1 to 3 is used to photographan image of an spectacle frame that is used as said lustrous object. 5.The method for photographing spectacle frames according to claim 4,wherein during said photography, said spectacle frames are irradiated bystrobe light through transmissible, light dispersing material.
 6. Themethod for photographing spectacle frames according to claim 4, whereinsaid spectacle frames are placed inside a lighting box with an indirectlighting function and wherein spectacle frames are photographed by saidcamera from an opening for photography made in this lighting box.
 7. Themethod for photographing spectacle frames according to claim 6, whereinsaid spectacle frames are covered by a transmissible, light dispersingmaterial that contains an opening for photography by said camera.
 8. Themethod for photographing spectacle frames according to claim 6, whereinsaid camera is a digital camera.
 9. An electronic spectacle framecatalogue creation method, wherein digital image information, which iscreated by digitizing images photographed using the method forphotographing spectacle frames described in claims 2 through 8, is usedas image information for said spectacle frames when creating anelectronic spectacle frame catalogue, in which information relating tospectacle frames, including image information for various spectacleframes, is stored electronically.